FILM School

I'm a fellow film student myself... Well you can hardly say that since my school has a terrible "array" of equipment, and holds most people to very low standards.

If you want my honest, gloomy opinion of the matter: It is a struggle each semester to justify my going there. I realize it is *my* choice to go, but there is always the whole parental guilt thing, and aside from that, I would honestly like to have a BA under my belt for some security. As far as the experience goes, I've learned next to nothing from my school, other than making a few connections (which have gone no where mind you, since no one there is really a serious film student). My school - New York Institute of Technology - does have a decent television news department, so I give it that, but it absolutely fails as a film school. They have a single HD camera, I believe a Z1U, but often discourage its usage because they don't believe in dealing with the "complexities" of HDV. I tried the camera out at home, but was displeased with the image, so I stayed with the DVX anyway, but that's another issue.

Anyway, I struggle to justify film school because the same amount of money (my parents are paying, which I love them for, but it's still money) could be put into equipment, particularly when it's $23,000/year. Here I am without a camera to take most freelance work, and without time to take anything else PAing, because they usually require attendance for a few consecutive days/weeks. It kills me inside, and I have yet to see a real benefit from the school.

And what about transferring? I tried it, and while I was accepted to School of Visual Arts in NYC (whose program looked impressive to me), they offered no money to me, and only took 21 of my credits, which is throwing away almost two years of attendance. I'm honestly only sticking to this place for the scholarship they've given me...

Now for the optimistic option: If you can find a school that you love, and you have financial independence (particularly parents paying for all of it), I'd certainly recommend it. I think I'd enjoy it myself if I was in that situation; spending my time concentrating on films, rather than stressing over my inability to take most jobs due to school, and enjoying a great conversation with fellow students who deeply understand the technical aspects and artistic application or the equipment they use.

Make your decision, but keep in mind what you already have, I think it goes a long way.
 
RX782 said:
I'm a fellow film student myself... Well you can hardly say that since my school has a terrible "array" of equipment, and holds most people to very low standards.

If you want my honest, gloomy opinion of the matter...
Click to expand...

sounds like your wasting your time..

I'm a mass comm major @ cuny. Its mostly theory and media studies + media law(copyright), with less emphasis on general technical knowledge - at least that's how I structure my studies. I learn the technical knowledge working in the field and doing my own thing. There is no substitute for field experience. I can care less if my school has equipment to give out. I have my own. cant let silly things like that stop you from flexing your creative muscle. get a camera, get a decent machine to edit on, and get started on your career as a media professional (but make sure you that's what you wanna do :) )
 
I don't feel film school is a waste of time. That's just me, though. I think one needs to go with what he/she feels is right. For me, it's film school.
 
For me, it's been a few years of back and forth if I should go or not. I will be attending Capilano University in Vancouver starting in September. We will see how it goes. I am still skeptical, but feel good about my descision. Time will tell.
 
I guess it really depends to which film school you are going to. For example: Chapman has unbelievable facilities and tons of equipment (even a spirit 4k). You will learn to handle all the tools you will later encounter in the industry, I think this is invaluable. You won't often get a chance to train on such high end equipment unless you go to a film school that has it...
 
We've been hired by a producer to do shoot his feature, (all Red), and at the same time with the extremely long shooting schedule, we're participating in an experiment in conjunction with a Regional Film School and participants from the local indy community. During part of the shoot students from the school and some indies will be coming on set to participate in a hands on workshop while the shooting is going on. The workshop will happen over three weeks. They'll get to discuss the staging and blocking decisions of many scenes, lighting choices, interact with the visual effects supervisor and a bunch of other related elements. BC Film and the Okanagan Film Commission will be getting a report as this experiment also has the direct impact of adding additional money to the funding of the films budget for the producer. If this works out then its a win win for everyone and could be the start of a shift of how people in this area learn about feature production.

A lot of features and narrative tv dramas are produced in BC every year.
 
Film schools are great anbd so are colleges. Even Jr Colleges have great video departments thes days. I designed the one for Peidmont Community College in NC. You'll leave with a degree, you'll learn all the ins and outs of production and post and your final is your demo reel.
That said, know your demo reel is your gig getter, not your degree or certification. Very few consider such things at all when in hiring mode. I consider the program I created for Piedmont a two year training to make that reel with savvy and an understanding of what is what and why it is.
 
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